By Paul Simao
ATLANTA (Reuters)
- A glitch in the production of flu vaccine means millions of
Americans will likely face delays getting their annual shots this
winter, though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(news - web sites) (CDC) says it does not expect a shortage of
the life-saving vaccine.
The Atlanta-based
agency estimated that a total of 75 million doses of flu vaccine,
including 9 million extra doses provided by a private manufacturer,
would be available for flu season, enough to meet usual demand.
But it said
Friday that a substantial amount of vaccine would reach doctors
and other health-care providers later than usual, and recommended
that those at high risk, such as the elderly, chronically ill
and health-care workers, be vaccinated first.
The length
of delays would depend on manufacturers, distributors and when
vaccine was ordered. Most Americans get their flu shots in the
last three months of the year.
``There are
some shipments of vaccine going out from the manufacturers right
now and we know that the percentage, or the amount out at this
time this year compared to previous years, is less,'' said CDC
spokeswoman Barbara Reynolds.
An estimated
110,000 Americans require hospital treatment and 20,000 die every
year from influenza.
The CDC recommends
vaccination for those aged 50 and older and those with diabetes,
immunosuppression disorders, severe anemia and chronic diseases
of the heart, lungs or kidneys.
Residents
of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities, women more than
three months pregnant in flu season, those in close contact with
high-risk groups and children and teenagers taking aspirin for
long periods are also urged to get immunized.
In an update
released on Thursday, the CDC also urged mass vaccination campaigns
be scheduled for later in the flu season and healthy people aged
50 to 64 delay their shots until December or later.
A delayed
vaccination schedule would likely still protect most people if
the flu season followed its trend of not peaking until January
or later. Two weeks are generally needed for a person to become
fully immune after receiving the vaccine.
The problems
with the flu vaccine, which health officials had described as
unprecedented, cropped up several months ago when it was revealed
that flu strains in this year's vaccine had grown more slowly
than expected in laboratories.
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